Where On Earth: Geography As You Have Never Seen it Before

Where On Earth: Geography As You Have Never Seen It Before     DK  2013

This is an extremely versatile atlas that is divided into six sections

Section 1:    Land, Sea, and Air

In this section, you get all of the standard, expected views that one would expect from the format, plus many exciting features that do not ordinarily appear in atlases.

The panels are distributed on double page spreads that incorporate infographic style elements. For example, the spread on global earthquake distribution has a layout of a world map that shows recorded quakes of the last 100 years and their relative intensity. The 5 strongest and the 5 deadliest earthquakes on record are identified and detailed in information boxes. This visual layout is especially strong in    

highlighting connections and relationships.

The format is uniformly fantastic throughout the section. Other notable parts include…

A Map of the Ocean Floor

A Map of Global Ocean Currents

Major Rivers of the World

Global Climate

Rain & Snowfall

Hurricanes

Time Zones

Section 2:     The Living World

Notable sections include…

Predators,         Dangerous Creatures        Invasive Species    Bird Migration

Biodiversity        Unique Wildlife     Endangered Animals    Extinctions Due to Human Activity

Section 3:     People & Planet

Notable sections include...

Global Population Density    The Median Ages of People Throughout the World

Life Expectancy       Global Poverty    Global Distribution of Billionaires 

Food Production         Food Intake    Literacy     Poolution

Garbage and Waste Production     Fossil Fuel Distribution  Climate Change Impacts

Section 4:     Engineering and Technology

Notable sections include...

Air Traffic     Global Shipping Routes     Armed Forces

A View From Outer Space of the Space Junk Orbiting the Earth

Section 5:   History

Notable sections include...

Fossilized Human Remains     Prehistoric Cultures     

Ancient Wonders (Includes 7 wonders of the ancient world & others that were unknown to the Greeks)

Medieval Wonders        Medieval  Empires       Historic Battles   The Last Empires

Revolutions

Section 6:     Culture

Notable sections include... 

Languages    Religious Sites     Distribution of World’s Religions

Density of TV Ownership Around the World

Simply put, there is a tremendous wealth of information presented in this book that lends itself to a staggering number of potential uses. The format is easily digestible, yet it can illuminate some complex connections and interactions.

Looking Closely Inside the Garden

Looking Closely Inside the Garden     By Frank Serafini      Kids Can Press 2008

The format is the same as the others in the series. Please refer to the review of

“Looking Closely Along the Shore” for details.

Though the format is the same, there is one important difference in this book. Since we have urbanized kids, the other habitats that are treated in this series may be more or less abstractions. Students may not have had a chance to visit the forest or the desert, and though they live in San Francisco, they may not be intimately familiar with the seashore.

The objects that are covered in this book are more likely to be extraordinarily familiar to urbanized kids. These are objects that the kids have seen up close, touched, and felt many times. Whether it is in the context of school gardening programs, playing in the park, or on a lawn, or even a random patch of dirt, students have extensive background knowledge and experience with the contents of this book.

However, this familiarity does not mean that the close up photos are readily apparent. Some require a bit of thought and imagination to guess correctly – even when the object is very familiar. I strongly feel that this further drives home the point that there in wonder inherent in the details that are all around you.

Looking Closely Along the Shore

Looking Closely Along the Shore    By Frank Serafini     Kids Can Press  2008

The author is a teacher and a nature photographer. He used to teach primary grades, and currently he is a professor of Children’s Literature at the UNLV School of Education.

The format presents objects in a series of close up views that appear in the center of a black page. The opposite page ventures a few guesses about the object before prompting the reader with the question, “What could it be?’

The next page shows the whole photo in context and gives some information on the object.

For example, the panel of the sand dollar goes beyond the reveal to provide the reader with some information regarding its structure and how it moves across the sea floor.  Similar information is given for each object that is treated in the book.

This book and others in this series by Serafini are great ways to introduce young students to different habitats.

They are also useful in priming students to observe nature more closely, whether it is on a field trip, or in the garden.

The guessing game aspect of the series is very attractive to kids, and it also has the added value of embedding a bit of informational text in its format. Furthermore, the leading questions that are used to prime the students before asking them to make their guesses provide models on how to engage in brainstorming.

Other titles in the series include “Looking Closely Through The Forest” and “Looking Closely Through the Desert”.

Magic School Bus & Climate Change

The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge     Joanna Cole   Scholastic 2010

One notable feature of the older Magic School Bus books is the sheer amount of detailed density that appears on each page. Oftentimes this format would get too busy, and it would take on the characteristics of an Eye Spy book in its busyness. Under such circumstances, it is easy for the reader to get bogged down.

This title is sparser in layout, and I would count that as a strength. It is still chock full of information, yet it is far more accessible. Additionally, it is substantially easier to adapt into a read aloud.

This book retains the examples of Frizzle’s students’ “notes” and “reports”. Not only do they model the research process for the reader, but they also provide information on the topic in a way that does not interrupt the narrative of the story.

When Ms. Frizzle brings an old book about the Earth to the class, they notice that it is out of date. Ms. Frizzle then takes the class on a field trip around the Earth in order to update the information in the book. In short, they are cross checking their sources. Additionally, as the readers take in the “student work” interspersed in the book, they are gathering “additional sources” as well.

As the students journey, they see the impacts of global warming throughout the Earth. They then investigate the causes of climate change. There is also a section that shows how various (both standard and alternative) electric generators work.

The book ends with ideas and suggestions that kids can use to help remedy the situation.

Earthquakes: Witness to Disaster

Earthquakes: Witness to Disaster    National Geographic      2009

This book opens with a fantastic presentation of the 1964 earthquake and tsunami that features dramatic photos and eyewitness testimony. These elements are put together in a way that lends a sense of immediacy and urgency to the narrative.

The following chapter starts with a treatment of early beliefs about the causes of earthquakes, and then extends into a presentation of earthquake science.

The next chapter presents famous earthquakes throughout history.

All of the above is presented in an attractive and informative format that is accessible and informative. Additionally, on a local note, you get two eyewitness accounts of the 89 SF earthquake – one from a driver on the Bay Bridge, and the other from the Goodyear Blimp pilot who was covering the World Series game at the time of the quake. (p38)

I like this book for the above reasons, and I think it can be a valuable resource.

However, I must take umbrage with this book on one important point. There is a chapter titled “Predicting and Preparing For Earthquakes”. Do notice the word order and emphasis in this title. It simply overstates, overreaches, and over sells in its claims.

The fact remains that we can not predict earthquakes.

The chapter starts with detailing cues that can be used to “predict” earthquakes, and it goes on to state this case in detail for several pages before getting around to quoting an actual seismologist -  “No one knows if we ever will be able to consistently predict eathquakes.”  It is only after this that the book talks about how to minimize the death and destruction caused by earthquakes. The quasi-fanciful takes precedence over the concrete and practical in this chapter.

This is simply shoddy, and indicative of the sensationalism that often pervades the presentation of scientific topics in books aimed at an elementary audience. By no means is this type of presentation limited to this age group or format. A cursory glance at the way science topics are often covered in the news media will readily confirm this.

We must remain vigilant. National Geographic is a trusted and venerable source, yet even they are susceptable to emphasizing the sensational over the scientific. In short, we must evaluate our sources critically, and not have blind faith in a particular publisher or name.